Priceline Hotel: 4* New York City (Madison Square Garden - Convention) Wyndham New Yorker Hotel

[Janet Diber]

Hi, I am looking for 2 rooms in a 3 star hotel in New york city for around $180-200US, for 6 nights from the 17th September for 4 people(Qs or KS).  I am not having any luck finding anything in that pricerange so thought i would try my luck with priceline. I have been looking at the central park south and mid west times square areas. There is a PRICELINE EXPRESS deal for $210 in the Central park south area that has a pool, from my research i have come up with Holiday Inn Midtown 57 as the only one in that area with a pool. I like this hotel and was wondering if i put in a 'Name my own price' for around $180-190 in that area, 3 star accom do you think there is a chance i might get that hotel? Appreciate any advise as i have never used this website before and dont want to muck up as i am booking for myself and another couple.

[thereuare]

Welcome to BetterBidding!

When bidding on PRICELINE you have to be willing to accept any hotel in the zone. The 'Name Your Own Price' side of PRICELINE and the 'PRICELINE EXPRESS' price side each use a different universe and inventory of hotels, so when bidding you may, or may not, receive the same property that is currently offered on PRICELINE EXPRESS.

If you want help with the PRICELINE EXPRESS offer please include the full list of amenities that are showing to be associated with that property. HOWEVER, if you decide to bid on PRICELINE, note that the CPS zone has the Hudson Hotel, which while well located, has notoriously small rooms (even by NYC standards), so that would be a property you would need to be willing to accept if including this zone in your bidding.

What looks to be the best value for your dates at the moment would be searching HOTWIRE. If you're not in the US please start by changing the drop down menu on the top right of HOTWIRE's page to United States and the currency dropdown to US Dollars. Then continue to search HOTWIRE and post to the board in US Dollars so that rates are consistent and not subject to interpretation due to future currency fluctuation. Once you're ready to purchase stay on the US version of their site and simply change the drop down menu to whatever currency you'd like to use and complete your purchase.

Once you have done the above, use our BiddingHelper.com tool to search for your dates and 2rooms/4adults. Using the EASY VIEW tab there should be a 4* hotel in the Madison Square Garden zone for $185/nite (your price may differ by a few dollars) with the following amenities (you'll need to click the green 'FULL AMENITIES' link to see them all):

Free Internet

Smoke Free

Fitness

Restaurant

Business

Hi-Speed Internet

Golf

Blind Accessible

Deaf Accessible

Travel Accessible

Room Accessible

Bathroom Accessible

Roll-in Shower

If you see this listing, best guess for this property would be the Wyndham New Yorker Hotel, and this would not only be a higher rated property for less money, but it's also more centrally located and a better choice than the Holiday Inn, imo. This is a historic NYC property that has recently changed brands from the Ramada to the Wyndham, and i believe that is why they are currently pricing aggressively, as this has recently become the 'best value' for many upcoming dates.

Doe this work for your needs?

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.

Let us know your thoughts and/or how it goes or if we can be of further help.

[Janet Diber]

These are the amenities listed on Priceline.express for the CPS hotel for $210US pn.

• Free Internet in room
• Outdoor Swimming Pool
• Restaurant
• Business Center
• Fitness Center

I was interested in the one that you are saying is the Wyndham as well, am happy to have more of an idea of which hotel it is for that price.

 

Do you think there would be much chance of winning the bid if i put $180US per night for the Holiday inn? I do like that it has a pool, my husband loves to swim in the mornings.

[thereuare]

Yes, my best guess for this PRICELINE EXPRESS property would be the Holiday Inn Midtown. However, as per above, if you try to bid on PRICELINE, there is a chance you win the Hudson Hotel (with the small room)... would this be an acceptable outcome?

Also, note that the pool at the Holiday Inn is outdoor, and at the end of the September it is usually not swimming weather (unless we hit some out of the ordinary warmer than expected weather).

I'll re-iterate that the 4* MSG property would be a better deal, and more conveniently located, than if you were to land either of the above in the CPS zone.

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.

[Janet Diber]

Hi, sorry to bother you again but i received a 1 day sale from Hotwire and this has a 4 star hotel in Madison square/hells kitchen for $177 per night. It is showing last person got The Out NYC. Does this mean i will get this hotel or could it still be The New Yorker? Does the hotel change daily? Or is there a chance it could be another 4 star hotel in that area? thanks for your help

[AaronJB]

The "last person got" is not necessarily the underlying hotel for that listing - it is the last hotel someone got in general at that particular star rating in that zone.

 

If you need help with a particular listing, please provide the full list of amenities showing with the listing, price star rating and zone.

 

You can also see the list of hotels - along with the amenities associated with each - here: Hotwire Hotel List New York.

 

Thank you for using the board's HOTWIRE or PRICELINE links to start your purchases and searches.

[Janet Diber]

Thanks so much for the list, it  makes a bit more sense now. Do you have a list for Santa Monica. We will be there 2 days from the 13th sept and want to stay around the pier area?

[yellowdog]

Use this link for Santa Monica: reported Priceline hotels and reported Hotwire hotels.

 

If you need any help with Santa Monica so please start a new topic to the stay.

 

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your purchases and searches.

 

Yellowdog.

[Janet Diber]

Thank you so much for your help. This is the last time I will ask on this post but can you please advise the best way to get these 3 hotels as these are the 3 places I am having trouble finding a reasonable priced hotel.

13/9-Santa Monica- 2 nights, 2 rooms with QS bed near pier for around $190US per night - 4 star

17/9- New York- 6 nights, 2 rooms with QS bed near times square theatre area for $190-200US - 3-4 star - also interested in the New Yorker.

8/10-Honolulu-6 nights, 2 rooms with QS bed on beach- wanting to stay at Outrigger Reef in partial ocean view?

 

Any help would be appreciated

 

[AaronJB]

Please start new threads for your Santa Monica and Honolulu stays.

 

There is no way to guarantee a particular bed type via Price.line or Hot.wire, although this is particularly true in NYC where rooms are often tiny. 

 

I'm seeing the 4* in the MSG area on Hot.wire that was mentioned above, although the price has now risen from $185 to $223. Hot.wire prices in general at the 3*/4* level are around or over $200 for these date/s in Midtown. Are you seeing anything of interest on PRICELINE express? On Price.line Express coupon code SPRING14 takes 5% off.

 

Thank you for using the board's HOTWIRE or PRICELINE links to start your purchases and searches.

[Janet Diber]

Thank you again, the only 4 star in MSG at the moment is now $381, will have to wait I guess...As this is the first time i have used this site I dont know how to post on the Santa monica site. I thought i just clicked on Ask a question and went to a general forum? Didnt realise there was different sections for different places. So can you please tell me how go about posting on the correct one?

[Romelle]

Janet,

 

New sites are always a challenge to learn.  But you will find this one pretty logical after you get the hang of it.

 

Click on Betterbidding up in the heading line to take you back to the starting point for everything.  Then scroll down until you find the state - California.  Click on that.  (I know I could name quite a few cities in Australia, but wouldn't have a clue as to their states.)

 

Romelle

 

PS - I just followed my own instructions, and see you've already successfully posted in the California area.  

 

PPS - If you can't find something you've posted, you can click on your screen name way up at the top of the page, and then select "My Content".  Everything you've posted will show up.  Sometimes the moderators move things to get them in the right place or, if you are forgetful like me, sometimes you just can't remember where you put them.

 

PPPS - While you are scrolling, you might wander clear on down to the end of the site.  You'll see bidding for Autos and at the very end is Hotel Reviews.  California does have some public transport and it is not bad, but lots of people prefer to rent a car.  The Hotel Reviews area has the unique perspective of people getting bargain rates via either Priceline or Hotwire.  But www.tripadvisor.com is also a wonderful source of hotel reviews.  It is organized by states, so you need to use the alphabetic link at the beginning and click on the first letter of the particular state.

[thereuare]

I'll also add that if you click on the NEED HELP?? link on the top right corner of the board there is a series of menus that you can follow which will take you to whatever section of the board you'd like.

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.

[Janet Diber]

Thank you very much for the advise. I dont know how i posted in the California site as this is the only page i have managed to find so far. I use trip adviser all the time so know my way around there. Will keep playing on here till i work it out so please forgive me if i get lost or ask the same questions thinking i am somewhere else?

[Romelle]

... please forgive me if i get lost or ask the same questions thinking i am somewhere else?

 

Janet,  

 

Of all the web sites I wander, this is probably the most patient and polite one I know.  Newbies/rookies/beginners always welcome, and calmly helped.  

 

You can always come back to the opening page by clicking on the big BETTERBIDDING in the upper left hand corner.

 

That big question mark and the "Need Help" in the upper left hand corner is really handy to get started.  It will jump you various places in the site.  This can suffice for your entire visit.

 

But, if you are like me, you will want to understand the overall organization better.  

 

So when you are on the opening page, scroll clear through just to see the overall organization:

     A couple blocks of general information/tips, etc.  

     All the hotel bidding information, with the first larger block alphabetically by US states, and then a shorter one of other geographic areas.  

     One for auto rental bidding.  

     A general block for other deals.

     Finally, the Hotel Reviews one.

 

Some smaller US states are grouped together with others starting with the same letter.  Odd geographically, but it saves space.

 

Each hotel state bidding area is separated into Priceline bidding and Hotwire bidding.  People often go back and forth between the two seeking their deal, but the post thread stays in one or the other of the areas until it is finished (bid won/decided not to go/got hotel another way/??).  Then it is moved to its appropriate area by the moderators.  

 

One hotel stay for one batch of posts (sometimes called a "thread").  If somebody posts in different places about the same stay, the posts are consolidated.

 

If you are comfortable with Tripadvisor, I actually think you'll find this one easier when you've used it a bit more.

 

The site doesn't have the high on-line traffic of some sites, since people tend to come on only for a particular trip, and then aren't on until their next trip.  The official administrator is thereuare, and AaronJB and YellowDog back him up.  One of the officials always answers everything.  There are a few regular recreational volunteers like me that chime in from time to time.  If somebody else is considering a similar stay they might opt to add some information.   But questions like "anybody out there know about .... " that work on really busy sites don't get the same response from lots of people here.  

 

For me, it works to think of this site as a big library, with really helpful librarians.  All the posts other people have left are the books.  I either browse the book section in which I'm interested, or use the Search function up top to get me pointed in the right direction.  A little different mind set.  

 

Take notice of the row of functions up in the header - the line that starts "BetterBidding  Priceline Maps .....".  Some really useful things there.  And the Search function towards the other side of that line is very powerful.  

 

Enough for now.  

 

Do post back specific questions and I'm sure somebody here will help you.  And if you don't quite get it the first time, post back!

 

Romelle

[thereuare]

Not sure if i can improve upon the great job that Romelle did above, but if i can add to the above...

The recent board upgrade has a 'Quick Navigation' which even if not utilized, i think does an excellent overview of how the board is organized, for those how like an 'outline format' (and if you don't remind being reminded of how you taught to organize things back in grammar school ;) ).

Here is a link: Quick Navigation (make sure you are on 'Forums' on the left hand side).
 
As well, each state is broken down/categorized as follows:

UNITED STATES

            FLORIDA

                        Hotel Lists and Travel Tips

                        Hotwire - wins and requests for help

                        Priceline - wins and requests for help

 

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.

 

Hope the above helps.

[Romelle]

Thereuare,

 

So that is what that funny little symbol does (the Quick Navigation little -- ah -- downward key? --- by View New Content).  

 

Aha.  

 

Seems most times I meddle while trying to help, I end up learning something too.  Guess that is why I continue to meddle.

 

 

Janet,

 

While I'm here, I'm wondering if you would also like some tips on staying in those slightly out of NYC areas that aren't so very expensive, and then commuting in by train?  Lots of expertise here on that also.

 

Hope we hear from you again.  

 

Romelle

[Janet Diber]

Thank you Romelle but I stayed on the outskirts last time I was there and spent a lot of time on buses and trains...I want to be in walking distance to everything this time around

[thereuare]

Which zones, by PRICELINE name, are acceptable for this stay?

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.

[Janet Diber]

We are looking  in Midtown south(central park south), times square and Madison square areas. I keep being drawn back to the 3 star one with pool in central park south as i feel that with all my research the only 3 star hotel in that area is Holiday Inn Midtown with a pool. Would this be a safe bet?

[thereuare]

Would this be a safe bet?

...if you try to bid on PRICELINE, there is a chance you win the Hudson Hotel (with the small room)... would this be an acceptable outcome?

Also, note that the pool at the Holiday Inn is outdoor, and at the end of the September it is usually not swimming weather (unless we hit some out of the ordinary warmer than expected weather).

I'll re-iterate that the 4* MSG property would be a better deal, and more conveniently located, than if you were to land either of the above in the CPS zone.

What is it about the Holiday Inn that makes it appealing to you?

As per my previous comments quoted above, the pool should not be a factor in your decision as it will most likely not be useable in late September, and as also noted, i think you can do better (at least you could have when i previously commented, i haven't looked to see if those offers are still offered)

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.

[Janet Diber]

I appreciate your input and i wish i did take advantage of your first comments as i would have got a very good deal but i still hadnt booked my airfares at that stage and i was trying to navigate my way around the website. It has gone up quite a bit since then and I have since booked my flights so now we are more serious about booking a hotel. The reason I keep going back to the Holiday Inn is because from my many hours of researching this seems to be the only hotel in that whole area that has a pool(from what i can see the Hudson does not) so I am hoping if i bid on that offer I should hopefully get that hotel and i at least i have a bit more of an idea of the hotel i might be getting. Just playing it safe I guess...or trying to???

[thereuare]

Would you rather have a high probability of an 'OK' hotel OR a 'reasonable' guess at a better hotel... where even if the guess is wrong, you are assured of some 'better' aspect of your stay, either better reviews, hotel location, star rating, etc?

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.

[Janet Diber]

Oh most definitely but unfortunately I don't have the confidence in doing this as I am new to this type of bidding and given I am booking for another couple am scared to risk getting a dodgy hotel.

 

Ok this is where we are at. Our flights are locked in so we are definitely coming to NYC. I have spoken with the other couple and we are happy to try our luck with a 4 star hotel in these 3 areas: Times square, Madison garden or Central park south but here is the clencher. We are hoping to find something around the $180-200 mark as it goes up quite a bit once the taxes and conversion are added on.

 

Is this an unrealistic amount? And if not can you please steer us in the right direction given we are now ready to take a risk. So upset we missed out on the New yorker as that was perfect but unfortunately the timing wasn't right. Do you think it will pay to wait a little longer as rates normally drop around 3 months prior?

 

thanks for you help, i truly appreciate it :-)

[thereuare]

I have spoken with the other couple and we are happy to try our luck with a 4 star hotel in these 3 areas: Times square, Madison garden or Central park south...

Are you sure you want to include the CPS zone, as previously mentioned, this zone has the Hudson Hotel with notoriously small rooms, and it sounds like this would be a situation you would want to avoid.

What is the reason for avoiding the MTW and/or ESB zones, as these are usually considered to be well located and work well for the average visitor?

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.